PEORIA -- With a non-stop rock/jazz beat, the Broadway show Cirque Dreams: Illumination whirled through the Peoria Civic Center on Nov. 28, part of a national tour. It's a terrific show, very slick and entertaining.
The Journal Star's preview story aptly described it. At the same time, a mere newspaper story doesn't do it justice. You have to see the tricks and stunts to believe them.
This is a 3-ring circus/vaudeville hybrid show, with comedy, magic, singing, dancing and music accompanying the daring acts.
The evening show received a standing ovation, well deserved. The performances were flawless, the costumes and sets beautifully done.
One flaw: there were no programs to identify the fine performers.
And the pricey tickets no doubt kept away many people who would have loved this show. The evening performance was not sold out. It should have been.
Why doesn't the Peoria Civic Center offer discount tickets late in the day, as is done in Chicago and New York? Special group rates also could be offered to groups that otherwise could not afford the tickets. Children would like this show, but there were few in the audience.
The arts need to continually build audiences, and offering discount tickets is a fine way to encourage attendance. My husband and I were once grad students, and we once needed discounted tickets to see arts events. Now we gladly buy the best seats. Those discounted tickets helped us learn to love and appreciate the arts.
-- Elaine Hopkins
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